AFCON 2025 : Nigeria cries foul after dramatic exit

AFCON 2025 continues to generate debate, and Nigeria’s semi-final elimination against Morocco has left deep frustration within the Super Eagles camp. After a tense encounter that ended in a penalty shootout, the Atlas Lions booked their place in the final, driven by a decisive performance from goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

However, beyond the sporting outcome, Nigerian players and media quickly shifted focus to the refereeing, led by Ghanaian official Daniel Laryea, whose appointment had already raised eyebrows given the historical rivalry between Ghana and Nigeria. According to Nigerian voices, a series of minor decisions and perceived leniency toward Morocco tilted the balance throughout the match.

Anger spilled over after the final whistle, with journalists and players openly criticizing the referee. Nigerian media outlets denounced what they described as biased officiating, citing the yellow card shown to Calvin Bassey, which will rule him out of the third-place match.

Players echoed that frustration, even while acknowledging Morocco’s quality and the cruelty of losing on penalties. Akor Adams urged reporters to question the referee directly, while Bright Osayi-Samuel insisted that, despite Nigeria’s strong performance, such refereeing standards had no place in a match of this magnitude. As Morocco marches on to the final, Nigeria is left with regret, controversy, and the bitter feeling that AFCON 2025 slipped away under questionable circumstances.